Big Win for SA’s Primary Industries

February 11, 2016

The State Liberals are delighted with today’s announcement from the Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources, Senator Anne Ruston, that Federal Government research agencies will be relocated to South Australia.

“Following months of intensive lobby from the State Liberals the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation and the Grains Research and Development Corporation will now established officers in Adelaide,” said Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries, David Ridgway.

“This is a huge win for primary industries and will bring new jobs and great expertise into South Australia.

“I’m please the natural advantages that South Australia enjoys in these areas of primary production have been recognised in the relocation of these research facilities.

“The relocation of the offices to South Australia is a tribute to the powers of persuasion of Senator Anne Ruston, Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water Resources.

“In May I wrote to the Minister for Agriculture, Barnaby Joyce spruiking the benefits of having these centres in South Australia and he was very receptive.”

Last May, Mr Ridgway also wrote to Premier Weatherill and Minister Bignell regarding the relocation and urging bi-partisan support.

Adelaide already houses the Australian Centre for Plant Functional Genomics, which is widely recognised as Australia’s leading grain research centre.

Furthermore, South Australia is already recognised as Australia’s centre of dry land agricultural research, with world class facilities such as the Minnipa Agricultural Centre on Eyre Peninsula.

“The FRDC facility will prove a great support for SA’s aquaculture sector which is a significant contributor to the state’s economy, accounting for $348.9 million the Gross State Product (GSP) and 2,625 full-time equivalent jobs in 2012-13.

“Locating the GRDC in closer proximity to these excellent facilities will enhance collaboration and information sharing and the FRDC will be more accessible to South Australia’s commercial fishing fleet, which is one of the largest in the Southern Hemisphere.”